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Calculating Alternate Weather Requirements for Aerodromes With TAFs

When filing an IFR flight plan in Canada a pilot must indicate an alternate aerodrome, other than the destination aerodrome, that is suitable for landing if the destination becomes unsuitable. A pilot must consider many factors when choosing an alternate, such as location, approaches, services available and weather. If the alternate aerodrome is not suitable as a destination, then it is likely a poor choice as an alternate.

The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) state:

602.122 Except as otherwise authorized by the Minister in an air operator certificate or in a private operator certificate, no pilot-in-command shall operate an aircraft in IFR flight unless the IFR flight plan or IFR flight itinerary that has been filed for the flight pursuant to section 602.73 includes an alternate aerodrome having a landing area suitable for use by that aircraft.

and

602.123 No pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall include an alternate aerodrome in an IFR flight plan or IFR flight itinerary unless available weather information indicates that the ceiling and visibility at the alternate aerodrome will, at the expected time of arrival, be at or above the alternate aerodrome weather minima specified in the Canada Air Pilot.

When calculating alternate aerodrome weather requirements it is important to understand the difference between precision approaches and non-precision approaches.

The CARs define a precision approach as: “an instrument approach by an aircraft using azimuth and glide path information”. In other words, this type of approach provides guidance for aircraft horizontally and vertically. Examples of precision approaches are Instrument Landing System (ILS), Microwave Landing System (MLS), and Precision Approach Radar (PAR).

A suitable runway or approach means a runway or approach that is suitable to use considering wind direction, aircraft configuration and equipment and runway surface.

Understanding that a runway and approach is suitable is important because if a runway is not suitable we can not use it to calculate alternate weather requirements.

Always refer to the most current Canada Air Pilot (CAP) for alternate weather minima. The following chart is an exert form the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) for spring 2011. This chart can be found in RAC 3.14. The following weather requirements only apply to aerodromes served by terminal area forecasts (TAFs). Note that in Canada we always use altitudes in increments of 100 feet for alternate weather requirements. Any number that is 20 or less will round down and any number that is 21 or more will round up. So 620 feet will rounded to 600 feet, and 621 feet will rounded to 700 feet.

ALTERNATE WEATHER MINIMA REQUIREMENTS

FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT SUITABLE ALTERNATE

WEATHER REQUIREMENTS

TWO OR MORE USABLE PRECISION APPROACHES, each providing straight-in minima to separate
suitable runways

600-2* or 300-1 above the lowest usable HAT and visibility, whichever is greater.

NON-PRECISION
ONLY AVAILABLE

800-2* or 300-1 above the lowest usable HAT/HAA and visibility, whichever is greater.

NO IFR
APPROACH AVAILABLE

Forecast weather must be no lower than 500 ft above a minimum IFR altitude that will permit a VFR approach
and landing.

FOR HELICOPTERS, where instrument approach procedures are available

Ceiling 200 ft above the minima for the approach to be flown, and visibility at least 1 SM, but never less than the minimum visibility for the approach to
be flown.

*600-2 and 800-2, as appropriate, are considered to be STANDARD ALTERNATE MINIMA.

Lets looks at some examples to help understand this information.

Example 1:

Step 1: I have chosen ABC Airport as my alternate by considering its location in relation to my planned destination, the services available, the large number of approaches available, NOTAMS, and the fact that the aerodrome has a TAF.

Step 2: After looking at the TAF I determine that based on forecasted winds at my estimated time of arrival (ETA) there will be five available and suitable approaches. Looking at the approach plates for these approaches I note the approach types, the height above touchdown zone (HAT), and the recommended viability. Note that LNAV is a type of GNSS approach.

ILS 29, 200 feet, 1/2 mile

LOC 29, 380 feet, 1 mile

LNAV 29, 230 feet, 1 mile

VOR 24, 360 feet, 1 1/2 miles

NDB 24, 460 feet, 1 1/2 miles

Step 3: I note that there is one precision approach available at my ETA. Referring to the Alternate Weather Minima Requirements chart above I see that with one usable precision approach the lowest allowable ceiling in the TAF is 600 feet and the lowest visibility is 2 miles. The chart also says to add 300 feet to the lowest usable HAT, (300 + 200′ HAT = 500). Since 500 feet is lower than the standard 600 feet, I must use 600 feet. I also add 1 mile to the lowest visibility, (1 + 1/2 miles = 1 1/2 miles). Since 1 1/2 mile is less than the standard 2 miles I must use 2 miles.

In summary, if I want to use ABC Airport as my alternate I must have a ceiling of not less than 600 feet and a visibility of not less than 2 miles in my TAF at my ETA.

Example 2:

Step 1: I have chosen DEF Airport as my alternate by considering its location in relation to my planned destination, the services available, the large number of approaches available, NOTAMS, and the fact that the aerodrome has a TAF.

Step 2: After looking at the TAF I determine that based on forecasted winds at my estimated time of arrival (ETA) there will be four available and suitable approaches. Looking at the approach plates for these approaches I note the approach types, the height above touchdown zone (HAT), and the recommended viability.

NDB 06, 580 feet, 2 mile

LNAV 06, 330 feet, 1 1/2 mile

VOR 11, 360 feet, 1 1/2 miles

NDB 11, 460 feet, 1 1/2 miles

Step 3: I note that there are only non-precision approaches available at my ETA. Referring to the Alternate Weather Minima Requirements chart above I see that with non-precision approaches the lowest allowable ceiling in the TAF is 800 feet and the lowest visibility is 2 miles. The chart also says to add 300 feet to the lowest usable HAT, (300 + 400′ HAT = 700). (Note that the lowest HAT, 330′, was rounded to 400′). Since 700 feet is lower than the standard 800 feet I must use 800 feet. I also add 1 mile to the lowest visibility, (1 + 1 1/2 miles = 2 1/2 miles). Since 2 1/2 mile is grater than the standard 2 miles I must use 2 1/2 miles.

In summary, if I want to use DEF Airport as my alternate I must have a ceiling of not less than 800 feet and a visibility of not less than 2 1/2 miles in my TAF at my ETA.

Example 3:

Step 1: I have chosen ABC Airport as my alternate by considering its location in relation to my planned destination, the services available, the large number of approaches available, NOTAMS, and the fact that the aerodrome has a TAF.

Step 2: After looking at the TAF I determine that based on forecasted winds at my estimated time of arrival (ETA) there will be nine available and suitable approaches. The winds are very light today. Looking at the approach plates for these approaches I note the approach types, the height above touchdown zone (HAT), and the recommended viability.

ILS 29, 200 feet, 1/2 mile

LOC 29, 380 feet, 1 mile

LNAV 29, 230 feet, 1 mile

VOR 24, 360 feet, 1 1/2 miles

NDB 24, 460 feet, 1 1/2 miles

NDB 06, 580 feet, 2 mile

LNAV 06, 330 feet, 1 1/2 mile

ILS 11, 200 feet, 1/2 miles

NDB 11, 460 feet, 1 1/2 miles

Step 3: I note that there are two precision approaches available at my ETA. Referring to the Alternate Weather Minima Requirements chart above I see that with two precision approaches the lowest allowable ceiling in the TAF is 400 feet and the lowest visibility is 1 miles. But I also note that the chart says “TWO OR MORE USABLE PRECISION APPROACHES, each providing straight-in minima to separate suitable runways”. Since ILS 11 and ILS 29 both approach to the same runway we can only take credit for one precision approach. For one precision approach the lowest allowable ceiling in the TAF is 600 feet and the lowest visibility is 2 miles. The chart also says to add 300 feet to the lowest usable HAT, (300 + 200′ HAT = 500′). Since 500 feet is lower than the standard 600 feet I must use 600 feet. I also add 1 mile to the lowest visibility, (1 + 1/2 miles = 1 1/2 miles). Since 1 1/2 mile is less than the standard 2 miles I must use 2 miles.

In summary, if I want to use ABC Airport as my alternate I must have a ceiling of not less than 600 feet and a visibility of not less than 2 miles in my TAF at my ETA.

One final note, if your chosen alternate aerodrome requires 600-2 or 800-2, which are considered standard, you can apply a sliding rule. As seen below, for a higher forecasted ceiling a reduced visibility is acceptable, but only what is seen in the chart.

STANDARD ALTERNATE MINIMA

IF STANDARD IS APPLICABLE, THEN THE FOLLOWING MINIMA ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED

CEILING

VISIBILITY

CEILING

VISIBILITY

600

2

700
800

1 1/2
1

800

2

900
1000

1 1/2
1

References:

Canada Air Pilot – Published by Nav Canada and is available for purchase from many Canadian pilot supply stores and Nav Canada’s online store: http://products.navcanada.ca/